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Hungry Horse News
Trout Unlimited banquet coming up
The public is invited to Flathead Valley Chapter Trout Unlimited’s annual banquet to support native trout and their habitat in Northwest Montana.The banquet will be held on Saturday, May 18, at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish. Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner is served at 7 p.m., online auction closes at 8 p.m., with a live auction and raffle prizes awarded after the dinner. The banquet is a fundraiser for Trout Unlimited to assist with many projects, primarily in Northwest Montana. Funding goes towards habitat conservation, water quality protection and restoring native fish populations. Tickets for the banquet are only available online. Participants may choose various combinations of dinner and raffle tickets. Discounts for couples and large groups are available. The silent auction opens on May 13 and ends at 8 p.m. sharp during the banquet on May 18. Silent auction bidders do not need to be at the banquet. Banquet tickets and silent auction items are available at https://us.givergy.com/FHV2024TUBanquet. For information about Flathead Valley Chapter Trout Unlimited visit fllatheadtu.org
Apgar Lookout: This early season jaunt a great way to get in shape, with views
The Apgar Mountain Lookout Trail is one of those trails to hike first thing in the season because it’s easy to get to and it’s a good conditioning trail, which is to say it exposes you to elevation gain in a hurry over its 3.5 miles.It’s been years since I hiked it, but since I’m recuperating from heart surgery, the boy and I gave it a go on a bright sunny Saturday recently.The trail starts out at the foot of Apgar Mountain at the end of the dirt Quarter Circle Bridge Road.Except for the spring creeks that cross the trail...
Cats wallop Bigfork, Browning
The Columbia Falls baseball team hammered its competition last week. In a doubleheader on Thursday the Wildcats beat Bigfork 14-1 and 16-3 respectively.On Saturday, they dropped Browning 21-0 and 28-2. All four games were on the road. The Cats are 11-2 overall. In the opener against Bigfork Nico Young had the big bat, with four RBIs on three hits as the Cats put up seven runs in the second and six more in the fourth in a game that ended in five on the mercy rule. Young had a homer and a double in the contest while Dayne Tu had a...
Track does well at ARM, Top 10
Malaki Simpson had more strong outings in track last week.The senior sprinter won the 100 meters at the Whitefish ARM meet Saturday with a time of 11.05. In the Top 10 meet in Missoula last Tuesday, Simpson was third in the 100 and won the 200 with a time of 22:05.Lane Voermans took fifth in the discus.Also at Whitefish ARM, Jack Phelps was second in the 400 with a 51.93; Quinn Clark took fourth in the 800 with a 2:05.93,.The Wildcats won the 4x400 relay with a 3:37.32; Voermans won the discus with a 158-10 and Joe West was third...
Hoerner has hot bat in Frenchtown tournament
The Columbia Falls softball team dropped Havre 11-3 and Libby 16-4 at the Frenchtown tourney last week.Italia Hoerner drove in four runs on three hits against Havre, including a three-run homer in the first.She also drove in a run on a single in the fourth,Tayler Lingle also tripled in the first inning to drive in two more runs against the Blue Ponies as the Wildkats shot out to a 7-0 lead and never looked back in a game that went five innings.Maddie Moultray, Haden Peters and freshman Katie Bulawsky combined for a three-hitter on the mound.On Thursday the Wildkats walloped Libby as well, 16-1.Hoerner also had a big game with five RBIs on three hits including the game’s lone dinger in a game that went four innings. Peters went the distance on the mound, striking out two while giving up just one run. Libby has been without their starting pitcher the past few games after she was hit by a ball during a game against the Wildkats earlier this season.The Kats faced conference foe Polson at home Tuesday.
Tennis squads rounding into form; Pickard has good week
The Columbia Falls tennis teams competed against Polson, Ronan and Bigfork last week.Against Polson, Logan Heupel and Will Pickard dropped Brock Henriksen and Ruger Ellis in No. 1 doubles, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4; Silas Ypma and Oliver McDonald also nabbed a win in doubles, dropping Teague McElwee and Taegen Gage 3-6, 6-1 (10-2).The girls swept Ronan in singles play, with Aliyah Arends dropping Sara McConnell, 6-1, 6-0. Bailey Windauer beat Mady Evo, 6-1, 6-1 in No. 2 singles.On the girls’ doubles side, Lexi Oberholtzer and Lucie Love, a new combination halfway through the season, dropped Kate Johnson and Kamryn Brown, 6-0, 6-0.On the boys’ side Pickard beat Toby Cantlon in singles play, 6-3, 6-0 while Jax Ramage and Lane Hoerner teamed up to beat Mason Parks and Brady Hunt, 6-3, 6-2.Against Bigfork, Oberholtzer kept her win streak alive in singles with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Tessa Troyer.Ramage nabbed a win in singles over Seth Christiaens, 6-2, 6-3.Heupel and Pickard also did well in doubles against the Vikes, dropping Malachi Comly and Andrew Wallen 6-1, 6-2.The teams faced off against Whitefish on Tuesday after presstime and then travel to Libby Saturday.
Glacier National Park plows less than a mile from Logan Pass
Glacier National Park Going-to-the-Sun Road snowplow crews are knocking on the door of Logan Pass. This week they reached the point just below Rim Rocks on the west side and plan to start plowing that area on Monday.Rim Rocks is just under a mile from Logan Pass. Snow depths were between 2 and 10 feet.On the east side the crew worked from Jackson Glacier Overlook to Siyeh Bend and will be moving beyond Siyeh Bend next week, the Park Service said.The hiker-biker closure on the east side is at the Grizzly pullout when crews are not working.The hiker-biker closure on the west side is Road Camp when crews aren’t working.Crews typically don’t work on the weekends. The closure points can change depending on conditions. Folks can text GNPROADS to 333111 to get the latest updates.Folks can drive the Sun Road as far as Lake McDonald Lodge on the west side and Rising Sun on the east side. The Many Glacier, Camas, and Chief Mountain roads are all open to vehicles.
Win streak for Oberholtzer
Columbia Falls tennis had a rough go against rival Whitefish Bulldogs on Tuesday, April 16 with Lexi Oberholtzer the sole winner for the Wildcats, remaining undefeated in women’s No. 1 singles. Oberholtzer went 7-6 (7-2), 7-5 versus Alivia Lusko. On the boys side, Jax Ramage fell in three sets to Bulldog Owen Erickson; 2-6, 6-4, 3-6. Girls No. 1 doubles team Lucie Love and Fiona Bryant fell 0-6, 1-6 to Whitefish’s Ainsley Scott and Maggie Mercer. Boys doubles team Logan Heupel and Will Pickard lost 3-6, 3-6 to Mason Kelch and Dane Hunt. “Whitefish has got a fabulous team this season,” coach Michele Colliander noted. The Cats also played in the Libby tournament Friday and Saturday, results were not available by presstime. On Thursday, April 25, tennis will be on the road versus Polson at noon and Ronan at 4 p.m. Friday, April 26 they play Bigfork away at 3 p.m. Monday the boys will play Whitefish away at 3 p.m. and girls at home at the same time.
Softball squeaks past Broncs
The Columbia Falls softball team got two wins last week, dropping Libby 16-1 on the road Thursday while edging Frenchtown 3-2 on a frigid Friday in a game that ended on a bases loaded walk at home.Frenchtown is a perennial state favorite and wins against the Broncs over the years have been a tough go. This game was no exception. The Wildkats scored a run in the first inning when Tayler Lingle reached first on a dropped third strike. Haden Peters would then hit a sharp ball to short where there was an error and Lingle was able to score...
Baseball gets key win against Eureka
The Columbia Falls baseball squad got a big win at home last week, dropping Eureka 6-3 Tuesday for a key conference victory.Lincoln County put up a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Wildcats answered with two runs of their own when Cody Schweikert hit a single with two on to tie it. The Lions would add a run in the top of the second, but Columbia Falls answered with two in the bottom of the third after Schweikert hit a fielder’s choice with two on. The Cats then put up runs in the bottom of the...
Boys take title at Iceberg Invitational
The Columbia Falls boys took first and the girls took second at the Iceberg Invite track meet Saturday at home.Malaki Simpson led the boys with a first in the 100 and 200 meters and the boys won the 4x100 relay. Lane Voermans won the discus and Oliver Kress the pole vault. The boys took second in the 4 x 400 relay and had some other solid performances as well.On the girls’ side, Ellie Stutsman won the javelin and took third in the discus and fifth in the shot put; Ashley Andrews was second in the 800 meters and Aubrey Smith was third in the 100 hurdles.The girls were also second in the 4 x 400 relay.Other notable performances included Kai Golan, fourth in the 100; Banyan Johnson, second in the 110 hurdles and Voermans took second in the shot put.Joe West took second in the javelin for the Wildcats. They traveled to Missoula for the Top 10 meet Tuesday after presstime and then are at the Whitefish ARM meet Saturday.
Shirley Ann Thompson, 92
Shirley Ann Henneberry Thompson, 92, went to the loving arms of her husband Earl Lindy Thompson on April 20, 2024. She passed peacefully with family by her side. Shirley was born in Dillon on July 11 1931. As a descendant of pioneers, she lived on the Henneberry Farm also known as Henneberry Gulch, in Dillon. Her youth was spent shared between many caretakers, including her Grandma Nay, her dad, her grandpa Burwell, and other aunts and neighbors. Shirley took on the role of a caretaker towards her own siblings. She lived with her Aunt Mammie in her high school years,...
Jerome Sand, 91
Jerome was 91 at the time of his passing. Jerome was a beloved brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and friend. He was always proud that he worked at St. Onge Logging. He used to attend antique tractor engine shows around the states, showing his own collection. He was able to attend the Northwest Antique Power Association’s show last year with his great-grandkids. Jerome got the opportunity to travel to Minnesota for the annual Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion two times over the last few years. He was so excited to be able to share that experience with his great grandchildren...
Roland Otto Cheek, 88
It is with peace in our hearts that we notify friends and community that Roland Cheek’s circle of life is now complete. He passed peacefully in his sleep on April 12th.Roland was born July 16, 1935 in Sweetwater, Texas to Hill Solomon Cheek and Viola Rose Cheek. His youth primarily was spent in the rural area around Roseburg, Oregon with brothers Hillburn and Duane. Hillburn’s deftness with a fly rod and ability to out-think deer laid a foundation for Roland’s passion for the great outdoors. As Roland matured he fell in love with the girl next door and married Carolyn...
Victor P. Miles, 51
Victor P. Miles died April 17, 2024 in Whitefish. A Celebration of Victor’s life will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at Columbia Mortuary. Victor is survived by his three kids; Tyler Miles, Cassandra Miles and Andrew Miles. Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is caring for Victor’s family.
Council interviews manager candidate
The Columbia Falls City Council Wednesday voted 3-2 to offer Dennis Stark of Frederick, Colorado the city manager position. If hired, Stark would replace longtime manager Susan Nicosia, who will retire at the end of June.Stark, 71, was offered the position contingent on the full completion of background, credit and reference checks. He was one of two finalists for the position, the other person, who was not named, withdrew.Stark was interviewed by council in an open session on Wednesday, April 17. Stark said he toured the city and was impressed by the beauty of the area and the quality of...
City manager candidate had ethics issue at previous job
Columbia Falls city manager candidate Dennis Stark was the subject of an ethics investigation when he was county manager for Lyon County, Nevada, and ultimately was sanctioned $1,000 by the Nevada Commission on Ethics in 2012.Stark was county manager for Lyon County from 2007 to 2010.The case centered around whether Stark improperly used his position as county manager to try to preserve his wife Sharon’s job within the county’s library system.Sharon Stark was worked for the county’s library system when Stark was county manager. Tensions grew high when the county had budget problems during the Great Recession and Sharon Stark’s...
Two banks coming to Columbia Falls; Park Side building new home
Columbia Falls will gain two new banks in the next year or so and Park Side Credit Union is also moving to a new location on U.S. Highway 2 at the former site of Angie’s Greenhouse.First Interstate Bank is building a new branch adjacent to the Auto Zone and Stockman Bank continues its expansion at the former Burger King.Stockman will demolish the former restaurant soon and hopes to begin construction this summer with an opening expected in late 2025.“We are very excited to be a part of the Columbia Falls community as we continue to invest in convenient locations to...
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The Hungry Horse News has been in publication since 1946. It is the only weekly newspaper in Montana to win a Pulitzer Prize and has a reputation for fine photography of the Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park. It is housed in a log cabin in Columbia Falls. Visitors with story ideas are always welcome to stop by.
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